Two life-altering events have shaped Derek Barnett‘s journey—one heartbreaking, the other joyous. In 2018, tragedy struck when Derek’s brother, David, lost his life in a devastating car crash. The family’s world shattered in an instant, leaving a void no hospital rush could mend. But amidst the sorrow, there’s a brighter chapter to this story—one that changed not just Derek’s life but the destiny of the entire Barnett clan.

Flashback to 2017: The NFL Draft. Nashville buzzed with excitement as the Philadelphia Eagles called Derek Barnett’s name as the 14th overall pick. Cheers erupted, but no one was more ecstatic than Derek’s biggest cheerleader—his mom, Christine. She wasn’t just proud; she was practically doing a victory lap in her living room.

Who is Derek Barnett’s mother, Christine Barnett?

Derek Barnett’s mom is Christine Barnett, who used to work at St UPS Warehouse. A mom of three children who works seven days a week in two shifts was her identity. Christine spent 28 years working in the warehouse. She used to tell Derek, “Stay humble and put your head down and just work,” and the NFL followed what his mother taught him. The Texans DE remembers, “When I make it to the NFL, she knows that I’ll be able to take care of her”. And guess what? Derek inked a $12,850,772 contract for four years when picked up by the Eagles. And his career earning goes up to $30,941,174, per Spotrac. Christine’s all the sacrifices finally paid off.

When Barnett was growing up, there were no signs left by his dad. There was only a passionate, hardworking woman. When Christine used to work two shifts and three jobs, she could always manage to see her son playing on the gridiron. The Houston DE remembers, “All throughout my childhood, I watched her come home from work only so she could change and go to another job.”

Derek Barnett remains indebted to his mother for her impeccable work ethic

When Christine learned that her son Derek had achieved a name in the 2017 drafts, she recalled the days when darkness was over the home, and the only ray of hope was Derek. Actually, mama Barnett wanted her younger child to achieve success beyond his craft. To see her sons successful and to feed the family, she used to work two shifts. Christine also used to work three jobs, which was tiring for a mother of three. Remembering those days full of hard work, DE’s mom once said, “That was rough for me. I’m not going to lie. Having three jobs is hard. But I only did that for a short period of time because your body is only going to allow you to do it for so long.”

Though he didn’t do that work for a longer time, even thinking and doing it for a few days would be unthinkable for any person. And it should not surprise anyone if people see Derek Barnett working on the field even after a whistle. In fact, this happened during his first year with the Eagles. All players left the ground after the coach’s whistle, and only one player was practicing on the field- Derek Barnett. When asked about that incident, the 6’3″ Barnett said, “Single parent, multiple jobs. At a young age, I saw how hard she worked. That instilled in me a work ethic. I felt I needed to match her — or do better.” 

Derek Barnett’s learnings from his mom set an inspiration for younger players in the NFL and those who want to be there. These days, she must be so proud, not because her hardworking days are being recognized, but because her son is playing in the NFL playoffs.